Kos: An island of ancient and Venetian touches

Kos is characterized as one of the ideal destinations for holidays in Greece and rightly so.

It is a beautiful island, the third largest of the Dodecanese, and is a particularly popular holiday destination for travelers from all over the world, attracting families, large groups, and couples.

Kos offers a wide variety of options for entertainment, nightlife, food, activities and accommodation.

It is a particularly welcoming place, but is also endowed with a rich past, while offering everyone what they dream of on vacation: a cosmopolitan aura, endless beaches with turquoise waters, picturesque settlements, seaside resorts, historical attractions.

This is the island where Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was born and lived, and as expected it looks like an open-air museum, with ancient and medieval monuments scattered everywhere. It has many archaeological sites and imposing buildings from the Italian period, which are worth visiting to experience its rich history.

In fact, because Kos has been inhabited since ancient times, it has been influenced by many cultures over the centuries. In the town of Kos, as well as in smaller villages and settlements, you will find many interesting monuments that bear witness to the long history of the island.

It is worth noting that in addition to all of the above, Kos has managed to win the title of “cycling island“. The flat terrain of the island, the large cycle paths it has and the network they serve, have highlighted it as a bike friendly destination.

On the island, locals and visitors choose bicycles as a means to enjoy the city, escape to the beaches and even for their work or shopping.

So it’s worth renting a bike and exploring the town of Kos as well as other settlements.

The island offers activities for all ages. Especially those who love outdoor activities, will add Kos to your list of top destinations.

What to see in Kos…

Start with the simple, which is often the best. Walk or take a bike ride on the Avenue of Palms, the emblematic street of the city, in front of the castle of the Knights of St. John.

A short distance away you will also find Liberty Square, which is surrounded by unique buildings, such as the Municipal Market and the Defterdar Mosque. There you will see monuments that summarize the rich history of the island, while at the same time you will also feel the modern pulse of the city.

The Archaeological Museum, which is housed in a listed building from the time of the Italian occupation, gathers a number of important finds from the Agora, the Conservatory, the Altar of Dionysus and the Roman House (Casa Romana).

The entrance to the old town starts from Eleftherias Square, where you can do your shopping and relax in a cafe, bar or restaurant.

Also, you should definitely visit the Castle of Neratzia, which is located on the south side of the port. The castle was built from 1436 to 1514 AD. and is one of the most characteristic examples of the architecture of the Knights in the Dodecanese.

Continue your tour to the plane tree of Hippocrates, under the shade of which thousands of tourists take a breather every year. This is one of the oldest trees in the world: the Hippocrates plane tree. According to popular tradition, the plane tree was planted by Hippocrates about 2,400 years ago and under its shade, the great sage taught the science of Medicine to his students. Today, the historical tree has a circumference of 12 meters and a huge trunk that resembles a cave, while next to it there are two fountains from the time of the Ottoman Empire and an inscription in Arabic that informs visitors that the water comes from the spring of Hippocrates.

Continue to the Ancient Agora. The commercial and social center of ancient Kos is one of the largest agoras/forums that have been excavated to date in Greece.

Of course you should not miss Casa Romana, one of the most impressive sights of Kos.

A must island for cycling enthusiasts

If you prefer to travel by bike on your vacation, combining environmental protection and your personal pleasure, then you have found your bearings on Kos.

The island has many bike shops where you can rent a bicycle, or repair yours.

In Kos, you will move safely on the bike path along the coastal road, in the Town of the island, on the beaches. For more experienced bikers there are other routes as the island is quite large.

There are not a few who choose to cycle around the island. After about 6 hours you will have a complete picture of the island and you will have seen its most beautiful places.

Among the routes you will find some in which you can combine mountain scenery and sea. Start from the island capital, pass through mountain roads and descend to the beach to enjoy the coolness of the sea.

The best compensation after your ride!

The beautiful beaches

And if all of the above does not prove that Kos is a blessed island, its beautiful beaches will leave no doubt about it. Kos has endless sandy beaches that satisfy all tastes.

Just a few minutes from the city, Lampi beach is an excellent choice for diving and water sports. East of the city, Psalidi and Agios Fokas are two of the most popular beaches of the island.

Also, on the north side of the island, the family-friendly Tigaki and the organized beaches at Marmari and Mastichari stand out. To the south we will find the crowded and endless sandy beach of Kardamena and Kefalos with the most beautiful – according to many – beaches of Kos.

A classic favorite option is the beach of Agios Stefanos, for swimming next to the ruins of the early Christian church of the same name, with the islet of Kastri in the background, where you can go swimming.

It is also worth visiting the huge and wildly beautiful Cavo Paradiso beach, at the southernmost tip of the island. It may be difficult to access, but the beach will make up for it!

A paradise for island hopping

Another huge advantage of the island is the inspiring nearby destinations and the easy access to them. There is no other island in the Dodecanese that offers such opportunities for island hopping.

Visiting Kalymnos from Mastichari or touring three islands (Kalymnos – Pserimos – Plati) are two of the most popular activities for visitors to the island of Kos. Diving in the turquoise waters of Plata and Pserimos is truly an unforgettable experience! Visiting the alternative island of Nisyros is also in great demand. The port of Kardamena allows you to visit Nisyros in less than an hour and even walk in the crater of a volcano! In addition, the coast of Turkey is almost 30-40 minutes away, offering visitors the opportunity to discover a whole other country in less than an hour.

A huge sailing hub

As if Kos wasn’t already blessed enough, the sun shines 3,000 hours or 250 days a year, combining with the Aegean breeze for what is known as a Mediterranean climate. But it is also the world-class sailing waters, strategic location, numerous anchorages, easy access and countless calm bays that attract sailors.

The island’s strategic position right in the middle of the Dodecanese together with Kos’ premier marina offering more than 265 berths, make it impossible not to consider Kos as a starting point for sailing trips. In fact, the marina of Kos has been awarded a Blue Flag, attracting and hosting more than 4,000 boats annually from all over Europe and the rest of the world.

Whether you choose to sail from the north or south side, you will be able to enjoy excellent sailing routes as the Dodecanese offer excellent cruising waters and several secluded coves. Nearby, sailors can reach both popular and remote islands such as Kalymnos, Pserimos, Leros, Patmos, Leipsoi, Nisyros, Rhodes, Symi, Tilos or Chalki.

In Kos, you can not only enjoy flexible itineraries, avoid the crowds and explore the hidden gems of the Aegean, but also reconnect with nature as well as yourself.

In conclusion, Kos offers activities for all ages. Especially those who love nature activities, you will add Kos to your list of top destinations.